The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders summoned Cameroon to RELEASE 4 Esu youths detained in Bamenda

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Cameroon.

New information:

The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources about the ongoing judicial harassment of members of the Esu Youths Development Association (EYDA) [1], namely Messrs. Abue Philip Kpwe, Cyprian Azong, Bernard Fuh and Divine Biame. The four are part of a group of leaders opposing land-grabbing undertaken on the land of the Esu community (North-West Cameroon) by Mr. Baba Ahmadou Danpullo [2], a billionaire businessman, cattle rancher, tea plantation owner and a member of the Central Committee of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party.

According to the information received, on December 20, 2016, the North-West Court of Appeal granted bail to the 4 youth leaders following several unjustified adjournments. No date for the appeal hearing regarding the lack of jurisdiction [3] has been set yet.

However, Mr. Albert Njie Nganje, the General Prosecutor of the North-West Region has blocked the release of the four defenders despite several requests for release, which have been denied on grounds that they were not filed to the appropriate court. They have been detained since May 2016 and all applications for their release since have been denied (see background information).

In addition, the Observatory has been informed of the precarious psychological condition of Mr. Abue Philip Kpwe who lost his son on September 7, 2016 and was refused permission to attend the funeral. Furthermore, the health of Messrs. Cyprian Azong, Divine Biame and Bernard Fuh are deteriorating due to poor detention conditions and no adequate medical care has been given to the detainees.

The four leaders are being prosecuted alongside five other Esu leaders, namely Messrs. Redemption Godlove, Ephraim Kagha Mbong, Emmanuel Wung, Ivo Meh and Williams Meh, on trumped-up charges of depredation by band” (Section 236.1 of the Penal Code). If convicted, the nine face 10 to 20 years in prison.HRH Fon Kum Achuo II, chief of the village [4], is also facing charges due to two complaints filed on behalf of Mr. Baba Ahmadou Danpullo. The case is still pending without any date for the next hearing scheduled.

Furthermore, Mr. Robert Fon, lawyer of the nine Esu community leaders, and Mr. Chris Mbunwe, a journalist of the Post Newspaper in Bamenda, who are targeted by a complaint for defamation filed by Mr. Baba Ahmadou Danpullo on February 24, 2016 regarding an interview [5] , also had their hearings postponed on several occasions, including on October 5, 2016. The next hearing is scheduled on February 2, 2017.

Accordingly, the Observatory calls upon the Cameroon authorities to release immediately Messrs. Abue Philip Kpwe, Divine Biame, Cyprian Azong and Bernard Fuh, and to put an end to the ongoing harassment, including at judicial level, against them as well as against Messrs. Redemption Godlove, Ephraim Kagha Mbong, Emmanuel Wung, Ivo Meh, Williams Meh, HRH Fon Kum Achuo II, Robert Fon and Chris Mbunwe.

The Observatory further urges the Cameroon authorities to ensure that, until charges are dropped, all the judicial proceedings are carried out in full compliance with their right to a fair trial, as protected under international law and to ensure the physical and psychological integrity of all nine defenders.

Background information:

In 2015, Mr. Baba Ahmadou Danpullo attempted to establish a land certificate on the Esu land. The Esu community leaders subsequently filed a case requesting Mr. Danpullo to prove the land ownership. Instead of providing this proof, Mr. Danpullo filed a case based on trumped-up charges of defamation against Barrister Robert Fon, the Esu community lawyer, claiming 100 million FCFA (152 449 euros), alleging that he had paid the Governor of the North-West and other officials 50 million FCFA (76 225 euros) to own the land. These developments are part of the pattern of judicial harassment to deprive the Esu community of legal counsel. Mr. Fon is also lawyer for the Mbororo community that has been resisting abuses by Mr. Danpullo over several years [6].

On January 18, 2016, farmhouses belonging to Esu people were reportedly burnt down by workers of the Elba Ranch, belonging to Mr. Baba Ahmadou Danpullo. The Esu filed a complaint to the Divisional Officer of Fungom but have received no response to date.

According to reports filed by Elba Ranch, in the night of April 18, 2016, huts belonging to the workers of his “Elba ranch” were burnt down. However, it is reported that at that time around 50 gendarmes were stationed in the area. A gendarmerie report of May 5 determined that no one could be held responsible for the above-mentioned acts.

On April 22, 2016, Mr. Redemption Godlove was arrested at his home on charges of “arson” and “vandalism” and transferred to Bamenda Central Prison. His door was forced upon by gendarmes from Elba Ranch. He was initially taken to Bamenda several kilometers from Esu and locked up in secret. Esu community leaders and their lawyer found him following several days of search.

On May 3, 2016, a two-room house under construction in Elba Ranch was reportedly partly damaged.

The same day, lawyers acting on behalf of Elba Ranch and Mr. Baba Ahmadou Danpullo filed a complaint against the nine above-mentioned community leaders and HRH Fon Kum Achuo II, for alleged burning down of huts belonging to the workers of his “ELBA ranch”.

On May 9, 2016, Messrs. Divine Biame, Cyprian Azong and Bernard Fuh were summoned to the gendarmerielegion of Bamenda and arrested under the same charges.

On May 25, 2016, Mr. Abue Philip Kpwe was in turn arrested at a routine identity card checkpoint, and placed in detention at Bamenda Central Prison on the same grounds.

On May 31, 2016, the Chambers of the Examining Magistrate of the High Court of Mezam Division Holden at Bamenda ruled on a Preliminary Objection filed by Barrister Robert Fon, on behalf of the nine above-mentioned activists.

Examining Magistrate Justice Francis Ndip Oben relied upon Section 140 of the Penal Procedure Code [7] to decline jurisdiction, and withdrew the remand warrant against Mr. Redemption Godlove only, though the remand arrests should have been cancelled against the other four [8], and effectively ordering their release.

In spite of this court decision, the Bamenda Central Prison authorities kept the five human rights defenders in detention, under the above-mentioned accusations.

On July 14, 2016, State Prosecutor Justice Nchang Augustin Amongwa had ordered the release on bail of Mr. Redemption Godlove for lack of jurisdiction ratione loci. However, according to the Penal Code he was supposed to also release the remaining four activists still in jail and close the case as the court has no jurisdiction to continue handling the matter.

The court decided to postpone the hearing for the third time until August 16, 2016, because the magistrate was busy and also because only Mr. Kpwe was brought to court. Since the arrest of several of the activists in April and May 2016, the trial had been postponed two other times (July 5 and July 12), all at the request of the court, allegedly due to the “late coming of Mr. Abue Phillip Kpwe and absence of Mr. Divine Biame, Cyprian Azong and Bernard Fuh”. According to the information received, the court did not prepare the warrant to bring the detainees to the hearing.

Hearings in the case were then continuously postponed including on October 17, November 1, 22, December 6, 13, 15 and 20, 2016.

In addition, Mr. Robert Fon and Chris Mbunwe, have been summoned to appear before the Examining Magistrate on August 18, 2016 following a complaint for defamation filed by Mr. Baba Ahmadou Danpullo on February 24, 2016, regarding an interview. He is claiming 100 000 000 FCFA (152 449 euros) in damages. Once again, the hearing has been postponed three times (April 20, 25 and June 13).

Several other acts of intimidation against the Esu community leaders have been reported.

On July 11, Mr. Sale Umaru, the ELBA Ranch manager, tried to bribe Mr. Abu Philip Kpwe in order to make him sign a document accusing HRH Fon Kum Achuo IIof instructing them to carry out the acts they are accused of. As a reward, he promised to secure his release and give him 500 000 FCFA (762 euros). Mr. Kpwe refused to sign the document.

On July 14, 2016, Mr. Danpullo through his ranch manager, filed a second complaint against HRH Fon Kum Achuo II accusing him of “setting up an armed group and importing guns from neighbouringNigeria to come in an attack the military in Esu and cattle belonging to Elba Ranch”. This complaint is still being investigated by gendarmes.

On July 18, 2016, Messrs. Ivo Friday Kenah and Joseph Kelly Gham, two villagers working for Elba Ranch, who testified in this case, confessed they had been threatened and forced by Mr. Sale Umaru and Mr. Baba Ahmadou Danpullo’s lawyer Sule Zakari to make false statements against the villagers and the Fon HRH Fon Kum Achuo II. They have been interviewed by gendarmes and provided written statements to this effect. Investigations are ongoing and this complaint is not yet at the level of the courts.

Actions requested:

Please write to the authorities of Cameroon and ask them to:

i. Guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of the nine members of EYDA, Messrs. HRH Fon Kum Achuo II, Robert Fon and Chris Mbunwe and all human rights defenders in Cameroon;

iii. Put an end to all acts of harassment – including at judicial level – against the nine members of EYDA, HRH Fon Kum Achuo II, Robert Fon and Chris Mbunwe and all human rights defenders in Cameroon;

iv. Conform in any circumstances with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the UN General Assembly, in particular its Articles 1 and 12.2;

v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights instruments ratified by Cameroon.

Please also write to diplomatic representations of Cameroon in your respective countries.

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Paris-Geneva, January 13, 2017

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, an FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the protection of human rights defenders and aims to offer them concrete support in their time of need. FIDHand OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society.